Luoghi e identità: ricostruzione storica dello spazio agrario, sociale e politico della baronia di Monreale nella Sardegna dell’età moderna

This study undertakes an analytical, historical reconstruction of the rural, social and political space of Baronia di Monreale, currently part of the Medio Campidano province of Sardinia, Italy. The expression “reconstruction of the rural, social and political space” entails an investigation into the various means by which the territory is exploited, the formation and development of economic and political élites in the villages, the various forms of property ownership (conveyancing of land and property), the urban demographic patterns of villages as well as the various typologies of dwellings . The investigation starts off with a historical exploration of the main events in Sardinia in modern times, focusing on those concerning the Monreale area. The central part of the present study is devoted to an in-­‐‑depth analysis of practices of the use of rural, agricultural space from the late Medieval period up to early contemporary times. The research has focused in particular on the creation and development of the estates of large landowners: records and maps in the Land Registry Office have been essential and fundamental research tools, thanks to which a graphic representation of the larger estates was made possible. The following section focuses on the social and political relations within and among the several communities. It was possible to reconstruct the dense network of family relations which linked the Monreale élite to people in the cities and in the rest of the region. In order to do this, both genealogical and the micro-­‐‑historical approaches have been employed, with the purpose of retracing the trajectories and the interconnections which enabled some of the representatives of Monreale families to occupy significant political and military roles in the national arena. The last part of the research has been devoted to the impacts and effects that human intervention had on the rural landscape. Land use, the testamentary dispositions, the conflicts between barons and communities have produced far-­‐‑reaching effects overtime, which have profoundly transformed the modern and contemporary landscape. The main objective of the study is to provide an overview of the several aspects that have contributed to shaping the places which are the subject of this research. The outcomes will have some practical applications in such areas as integrated planning, landscape conservation and development as well as in structured planning in sectors such as agriculture and handicrafts. Archive research was undertaken at Cagliari State Archives, Turin State Archives, Historical Diocesan Archives in Ales and the historical archives in Guspini, San Gavino and Sardara municipalities. The private archives of the Orrù and Diana families were consulted, as was that of the ecclesiastic Lorenzo Tuveri from Sardara.